Massive leak of information. Nearly 150 million accounts could be compromised. Gmail users, the most exposed
Tens of millions of online credentials have been compromised in a massive data breach, and Gmail users are among the worst affected. About 149 million credentials were stolen.
The wizard recommends users to update their operating systems. PHOTO: Shutterstock
Cybersecurity expert Jeremiah Fowler discovered a huge database containing approximately 149 million stolen credentials, including email addresses, usernames, passwords and direct links to account login pages.
“We saw thousands of files that included emails, usernames, passwords and links to account login or authorization pages,” said Fowler, quoted by the Daily Mail.
Most of the compromised data came from Gmail – about 48 million accounts. It was followed by Facebook, with about 17 million, Instagram – 6.5 million, Yahoo Mail – 4 million, Netflix – about 3.4 million and Outlook – 1.5 million. Also, data belonging to users of iCloud, TikTok, OnlyFans, Binance, but also some educational domains (.edu) were identified.
According to the specialist, the database was left publicly exposed online so that anyone could have accessed sensitive information of victims around the world. The data appears to have been collected using infostealer and keylogger malware, which discreetly steal passwords and credentials from infected devices.
A Google spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the data set is not a new security breach, but an aggregation of previously compromised information collected by malware. The company said it has automated systems that lock accounts and force password resets when such leaks are detected.
Cyber security expert Jeremiah Fowler warns that having exact email addresses, passwords and login links significantly increases the risk of cyber attacks, fraud, identity theft and highly convincing phishing campaigns.
The expert advises users to update their operating systems, use security solutions, check installed applications and granted permissions, and urgently change their passwords, especially if they suspect their devices may have been infected with malware.
